Council tax query

Hi all

I'm applying for naturalization and currently have ILR.

I've read that the home office check to see if you pay council tax. I'm currently not registered with my local council, I pay my council tax to the lodger I live with. I've only discovered recently that she has listed herself as the only person living in the flat to claim single person tax benefits. Does the home office contact the council and would they put 2 and 2 together and work out that I'm paying less tax then I should be?? Ive found little info on this out there, I thought maybe the home office are only concerned with whether you have NOT paid council tax or have some court order taken out on you for late payments, is this true?

Possible.

It's your responsibility to ensure you are paying any CT you are liable for so you need to sort it now. Also you can be jailed for this, tho unlikely now. AIUI it's one of the few instances in modern day UK that you can be jailed for a debt.

mrnargileh wrote:Hi all

I'm applying for naturalization and currently have ILR.

I've read that the home office check to see if you pay council tax. I'm currently not registered with my local council, I pay my council tax to the lodger I live with. I've only discovered recently that she has listed herself as the only person living in the flat to claim single person tax benefits. Does the home office contact the council and would they put 2 and 2 together and work out that I'm paying less tax then I should be?? Ive found little info on this out there, I thought maybe the home office are only concerned with whether you have NOT paid council tax or have some court order taken out on you for late payments, is this true?

Good Character - Reasons for refusal
6.4 Non-Payment of Council Tax
The decision maker will not normally refuse an application where the person has
been unable to pay Council Tax because of their financial position. This is
particularly true if some sort of arrangement is being, or has been, negotiated with
the relevant authority.
However, payment of Council Tax is a legal requirement and non-compliance is a
punishable offence. Therefore, a decision maker will normally refuse an application
where a person has:
a. unreasonably failed to pay, or
b. provided a false statement or statements – including failing to declare their full
circumstances – to avoid paying the correct rate.

IMHO, it all depends upon your contract with your landlord. If your contract says that your landlord will pay the council tax then you have nothing to worry about.